Outdoors notebook: Council sets up dates to hunt migratory birds

Sunday

While dates for much waterfowl hunting are yet to come, the Ohio Wildlife Council approved seasons for migratory birds that include mourning doves, Canada geese, teals, rails, moorhens and snipes.

While dates for much waterfowl hunting are yet to come, the Ohio Wildlife Council approved seasons for migratory birds that include mourning doves, Canada geese, teals, rails, moorhens and snipes.

The split dove season is scheduled Sept.?1 through Oct.?21 and Dec.?15 through Jan.?2. The daily limit is 15 and the possession limit 30 after the first day.

Controlled hunts are planned at several locations, and youth hunters will be given priority Sept.?1-2 at St. Marys Fish Hatchery in Logan County. For details about the hunts and drawings, visit wildohio.com or phone the Ohio Division of Wildlife office in Xenia at 937- 372-9261.

The special early season for Canada geese will run statewide Sept.?1-15, with a daily limit of four and a possession limit of eight. The Mercer Canada Goose Zone will be open during the special early season.

The early teal season is set to run Sept.?1-16. The daily limit is four and the possession limit eight.

Sora rails, Virginia rails and moorhens, with a daily limit of 25 rails and 15 moorhens, can be hunted Sept.?1 through Nov.?9. A split season for snipe will run Sept.?1 to Nov.?25 and Dec.?15 through Jan.?4, with a daily limit of eight. Woodcock season runs Oct.?12 to Nov.?25, with a daily limit of three and a possession limit of six.

Generally, hunting hours for rails, moorhens, snipe, woodcock, teal, doves and Canada geese are sunrise to sunset. However, some wildlife areas have posted hunting times for doves.

Waterfowl hunters must have an Ohio hunting license with a state wetlands habitat stamp endorsement, a federal duck stamp and a Harvest Information Program (HIP) certification. Anyone hunting migratory game birds must obtain a new HIP certification each year.

While updated hunting season information can be found at wildohio.com, brochures will be available at license outlets in late August.

Parting shots

The deadline to apply for the lottery drawing to hunt Pickerel Creek Wildlife Area during opening day of the teal season and early goose season is Aug.?6. For details, visit wildohio.com or phone 1-800-WILDLIFE. … Mark Douglas of Blacklick, Joe Eierman of Sunbury, Bob Horn of Utica, Chuck Albert of Sunbury and Hal Hare of Gahanna were among the medal winners during the National Skeet Shooting Association’s World Vintage Shotgun Competitions last weekend in Wilmington. … Have questions or issues with the Ohio Division of Forestry’s management plans? An open house for the Southern District State Forests is scheduled for 4-7 p.m. on Tuesday at the Chillicothe District Office, 345 Allen Ave., Chillicothe. For information, phone 740-774-1596. Open houses are planned in Swanton for northwest Ohio and in New Philadelphia for the Mohican-Memorial and the eastern state forests. For details, visit www.ohiodnr.com/forestry.

outdoors@dispatch.com

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